Prior to the vote, senior Ariel Huffman said going coed would mark a retreat from the most important message taught to her at Wilson — that she doesn't need to rely on men.

Huffman, along with dozens of alumnae and students who gathered at the school Sunday, favored a marketing blitz highlighting the uniqueness of Wilson, a liberal arts college founded in 1869.

If that proved fruitless after two years, Huffman could accept going coed to offset the stagnant enrollment that has caused a crisis that includes $31 million in debt and $10 million in delayed maintenance.

The news of the trustees' decision triggered disappointment and tears among the gathered students and alumnae. In recent weeks, alumnae raised more then $81,000 in an effort to convince trustees that they could be relied on for a major effort to raise money and promote their school.

"We are all just heartbroken," said Sara Howley, a senior from State College, standing among a small group of downcast classmates.

The 28-member trustee board didn't reveal the vote count, but one official said the goal was two-thirds approval of a multipronged plan to address the enrollment and financial crisis. The plan also calls for items, including expanded course offerings, such as health-care majors, and lower tuition.

"It's a very emotional issue," said John Gibb, chairman of the trustees.

But as financial stewards of the school, trustees felt obligated to make it fully coed, he said.

He said the change is needed to boost enrollment, and the enrollment boost is needed to improve the overall vibrancy and appeal of the school, and the range of clubs and other attractions it can offer.

He said opening the school's residential program to men — men are already allowed in commuter and graduate programs — also will increase Wilson's appeal to prospective female students.

Wilson has about 700 students, but less than 300 in the residential program open only to women. School officials have said the modern peak was 732 students in 1967.

Gibb said he had no figures on how many men Wilson hopes to enroll in 2014. Based on other women's colleges that have gone coed, he said he doubts men will ever make up more than 30 percent of the student population.

He said Wilson also will have to offer a sports program for men, as per federal law, but he doubts it will ever offer football, because of the cost. Wilson will be allowed to phase in the men's sports, said Gibb, who noted Wilson has a soccer field, which could be shared by a men's team.

College President Barbara Mistick has cited figures intended to make the case that, because of societal changes, few of today's female high school students will consider a women's college.

But several alumna gathered Sunday argued some women's colleges have waiting lists, and suggested Wilson has failed to sufficiently market itself.

"Wilson should be at a competitive advantage … something here is not happening as it should," said Deborah Barnes, of Chambersburg, a science writer and editor who graduated from Wilson in 1971.

Noting that Wilson lacks things such as football team, Barnes expressed doubt that many men will want to enroll at Wilson.

Many alumnae argued that a women's college, where all student leadership positions are held by women, and where they contend women are more assertive in classroom discussions, allows women to learn leadership skills they won't obtain in a coed setting.

At coed colleges, they argued, student leadership and management positions are dominated by men.

Prior to the vote, senior Leslie Hoover of Lancaster said, "I would love for it to stay the way that it is."

Hoover, with a dual major in accounting and economics, is vice president of the student government.

She said that when she was in high school, she had no intention of attending a women's college. Hoover, captain of Wilson's horse dressage team, said a high school coach suggested she visit the school because of its multiple equestrian-related offerings.

During her visit, she was impressed by the lack of "cookie-cutter answers" to her questions.

She said she has no problem with having men on campus, but fears Wilson's ability to offer a "women-centered" education will fade away.

She further said she came to greatly value Wilson's "honor system," which dictates that Wilson students must be fair and honest in their dealings with other people, and in all aspects of their personal conduct. For example, she said Wilson instructors commonly allow students to take exams home, with the expectation that they won't refer to a textbook or otherwise cheat.

With men living on campus, and all the new situations that will follow, she fears it will be impossible to continuing relying on the honor code, she said.

Wilson costs about $39,500 per year, including tuition and room and board. That amount will be reduced as part of the plan approved Sunday.

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